By Sportswriter Tan Jingjing

    BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Just one day after hitting a wall of frustration, Canadian top diver Alexandre Despatie seemed back in a good mood, unaware of what happened a day before.

    "Disappointed? Oh no, not at all. I get to move on, and keep going. I still have one more event," said a smiling Despatie on Thursday, setting out on his new road for Olympic podium.

    It's not easy growing up and trying to be the best in the world in something at the same time.

    The world platform champion suffered an unexpected blow a day before, when he came too close to an Olympic medal in 3m springboard synchro but finally slumped outside the podium for his third straight Olympics.

    During the dramatic event, Despatie and his 37-year-old partner Arturo Miranda, sat on third place along the first half of the competition. However, a difficult fourth dive, a forward three-and-a-half in pike position, cost them a tumble to the fifth and took away the bronze almost in hand.

    "It's really very disappointing. We didn't perform well today. As you can see, we had lots of problems in synchronization," said a depressed Despatie after the competition.

    "We prepared a lot for the final, but failed to take the chance," he said in a low voice, with smiles fading away.

    One day later, the extrovert reappeared on his favorite springboard at the National Aquatic Center, known as the Water Cube.

    With smiles lingering on face, the sunshine boy seemed back to good shape. He focused on crouched jump, armstand and jackknife dive during his two-hour training on Thursday evening.

    "I feel very good today. Though a little tired from the event yesterday, I had good training," said the Canadian top favorite, wearing his lucky cricket cap.

    He had three more days to go before the 3m springboard individual event starts on next Monday.

    "I'll stay focused on that event. Keep training and get ready," said a confident Despatie.

    "I have confidence to win the individual event. Everything goes well for that," said the Montrealer.

    His parents flew from Canada to Beijing to cheer for him, just as they did in the previous two Olympics.

    "They really have fun in Beijing. They are always proud of me. No matter what happens, they always give me good support and encouragement," said the Canadian.

    His best Chinese friend Wang Feng, winner of the synchro event, also cheered him up after the disappointing show on Wednesday.

    "I hope he (Despatie) can adjust himself soon to compete in the individual event," said Wang, who wears the same tattoo with Despatie on his left arm, describing it as a "sign of friendship".

    Despatie's main rivals on the springboard will be China's Qin Kai and He Chong, legendary Russian Dimitry Sautin, one of Despatie's heroes, Ken Terauchi from Japan and Yahel Castillo from Mexico.

    Despatie is that rare combination of extreme talent, work ethic and desire in one package.

    Ever since he wowed the diving world by winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal at the tender age of 13, he has felt the weight of expectations.

    But his own expectations have been the heaviest, and managing them is really the only obstacle for him to win a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

    "When you get to a certain level, top divers in the world, the difference lies in the mind," Despatie said. "How you react to different situations, how you approach the meet."

    Now 23, Despatie is easily the most talented diver Canada has ever produced. Not only is he the world champion on men's 10m tower, but he has come on strong in the last couple of years to become a top-ranked springboard diver as well.

    During his Olympic debut in the 2000 Sydney Games, Despatie was barely held off the Olympic podium when he finished fourth on the tower at 15.

    After two years' hard training, in the 2003 Barcelona World Championships, the 18-year-old defeated Chinese favorites Tian Liang and Hu Jia to claim victory in the 10m platform, making himself Canada's first diving world champion.

    Despatie took a silver in the 3m springboard at Athens Games, bringing the first-ever Olympic medal for his country.

    He even took two silvers in the 2007 Melbourne World Championships after coming back from severe injuries.